Latest issue of Socialist Voice available on line.

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday April 07, 2003 15:47 by Brian Cahill - Socialist Party info at socialistparty dot net

The most recent issue of the Socialist Party's newspaper is now available on line. It includes a special feature on the war in Iraq, articles on the big school student strikes which have taken place and, as usual, workplace news. Short summaries of the articles included.

Special Feature: Stop the Slaughter in the Gulf

DESPITE THE sandstorm of official disinformation clouding what is happening in Iraq one thing is crystal clear, the optimistic scenario presented by Bush and Blair of a quick easy military victory is not going to happen. Both leaders, but Blair in particular, have gambled heavily on a short war and speedy victory.

North: Thousands of School Students Join Walkouts

ON 5 March over 15,000 school students across the North joined school walk-outs, rallys and mass meetings organised by Youth Against the War. On Day 'X', walk-outs took place in dozens of school and colleges throughout Northern Ireland. Big rallies took place in Belfast, Derry and Omagh.

South: Youth Against War Takes to the Streets

YOUTH AGAINST War has continued to grow in Ireland. On 14 March and on Day X YAW led walkouts and protests around the country in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Wexford.
School Students in Revolt Around the World A KEY feature of the Day X protests around the world has been school student walkouts. Many have been initiated in some form by sister organisations of the Socialist Youth and Youth Against the War. Many have had to face down pressure from school authorities and the state itself.

Trade Union Action to Force US Miliatry Out of Shannon

THE DECISION by the Irish Government to allow the continued use of Shannon Airport makes this government culpable in the bombing of Iraq. Despite Bertie Ahern's denials to the contrary, Ireland is part of the so called "coalition of the willing" which is defined as countries which send troops to the Gulf or allow flyovers and stopovers. In this, Ireland obviously qualifies. Ahern, Cowen and Harney have the blood of every innocent Iraqi civilian on their hands. They are war criminals.

Joe Higgins Column: Government is Cold in the Face of Slaughter

THE WAR in Iraq has opened up a huge chasm between a large majority of ordinary working people who oppose the war and the political establishment who support it in different ways. As the Socialist Party representative in the Dail, and an activist in the Irish Anti-War Movement to which our Party is affiliated, I get a very close up view of the chasm in this State between the people and the government.

North: New Agreement Possible - Workers' Voice Needed in Assembly Elections

THE BRITISH and Irish governments are hoping to patch up the differences between the main pro-Agreement parties before the end of April, and to hold Assembly elections in late May. Achieving this will not be easy. The basic fault lines that have run right through the peace process continue to bedevil it. There has been no real agreement at any stage, beyond an agreement to differ. The Agreement is based on division and accepts that division is permanent. It is does not provide a solution.

North: Halt Arms Production in Derry

RAYTHEON PLANT in Derry, which has long been a target for anti-war campaigners is now firmly back in the headlines with 1,000's of deadly Tomahawk Cruise missiles, fired against Iraq.

Blair Ensures he Will Retire in Comfort

WAGING WAR on a third world country for oil without democratic support from your electorate whilst simultaneously denying the civil rights of your country's firemen is apparently very hard work indeed. So hard in fact that Tony Blair has decided to reward himself with a record breaking pension deal that will earn him nearly £100,000 a year until he dies.

North: Money Goes on Weapons While we Queue for Treatment

ON THE night war started I found myself in the A&E of the children's hospital in the RVH with my son who had predictably fallen off his skateboard and broken his wrist.

Join the Struggle for Socialism

THE WAR on Iraq is a turning point in world political affairs. The preparation for war and the war itself have been the catalyst that has forced millions into activity. An important factor in the ability of the capitalist establishment in Britain, Ireland and internationally to go on the offensive on a whole series of issues over the last years has been the historically low level of political activity. This is dramatically changing.

Bush & Blair's Middle East Plan - The Road to Nowhere

GEORGE BUSH'S "road map" to a political settlement of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, supposedly leading to a Palestinian state by 2005, is a cynical exercise in placating Arab opinion while US forces invade and occupy Iraq. This latest initiative, resting on a capitalist system of oppression and exploitation, has even less chance of succeeding than any previous peace plan of the last decade.

North: Workplace News

AIRPORT WORKERS Demand the Truth - Defending Our Fireservice - Social Workers Set to Strike.

South: Workplace News

"SUSTAINING PROGRESS" Passed: Time to Build a Real Fight Back - Aer Lingus: The Sale Begins - An Post Union Busting - Chemical Plant Lockout - Public Health Doctors to Strike.

Youth Against War: Defend the Right to Protest

ON MARCH 5th and Day 'X', thousands of school students across Northern Ireland took part in the Youth Against the War protests and walked out of school to show their opposition to the war. Thousands of others were denied their democratic right to protest against war on Iraq.

Stop the War & Fight the System - Join Socialist Youth

THE MASSACRES at the market places in Baghdad have brought home for many the harsh reality of Bush and Blair's war for oil. As in all wars, it is ordinary people, especially young people who pay the price.